Miniature plastic containers

ABSTRACT

A miniature plastic container, particularly adapted for cosmetic preparations and the like, in which the body of the container is closed at one end by a wall, its opposite end being adapted to receive a pluglike closure which may be covered by a cap removable for dispensing the preparation. The plug closure also is preferably made of plastic. Surrounding an area of the pluglike closure, which may be located near its inner end, is a thin metal ring engaging the inner wall-surface of the container body. The thus assembled container, after filling, but preferably before filling, may have applied to the plug area a short induction coil with a medium-high-frequency current, which heats up the metal ring, melting the neighboring layer of plastic and resulting in a thermal bond between the container body and the pluglike closure.

United States Patent Allan A. Costa [72] Inventor 682 Udall Road, West Islip, NY. 11795 [21] Appl. No. 827,787 [22] Filed May 26, 1969 [45] Patented June 8, 1971 [54] MINIATURE PLASTIC CONTAINERS 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 150/.5, 220/67,219/8.5,219/67 [51} Int. Cl A45c /00, 865d /00 [50] Field of Search 220/55, 45, 67; 150/5; 219/85, 67; 224/569, 572,573; 215/ 1 .5, 47

[56] References Cited 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,642,911 6/1953 DeShazor.. 150/.5 2,744,655 5/1956 Vnuk 150/.5X

3,047,703 7/1962 Aske 220/45 Primary Examiner-George T. Hall Attorney-W. Lee Helms ABSTRACT: A miniature plastic container, particularly adapted for cosmetic preparations and the like, in which the body of the container is closed at one end by a wall, its opposite end being adapted to receive a pluglike closure which may be covered by a cap removable for dispensing the preparation. The plug closure also is preferably made of plastic. Surrounding an area of the pluglike closure, which may be located near its inner end, is a thin metal ring engaging the inner wall-surface of the container body. The thus assembled container, after filling, but preferably before filling, may have applied to the plug area a short induction coil with a medium-high-frequency current, which heats up the metal ring, melting the neighboring layer of plastic and resulting in a thermal bond between the container body and the pluglike closuret MINIATURE PLASTIC CONTAINERS The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I, is a view in longitudinal section showing the container body, and at the right-hand end thereof a side view of the closure-plug in position for insertion.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal view of the assembled container body and closure plug,'the container body being partly broken away.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the closed plastic container with two turns of an induction coil around the closure-plug area of the assembly, inwardly of its front end.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the thin metal ring.

Referring to the drawings, at l is shown one form of the container body, to be considered as a plain circular tube, although it may be of other forms, as hexagon, for example, if desired. As shown, the container body has a closure wall at one end, and at its opposite end an inner area has a greater diameter, providing a shoulder at 1-. Fitted within said inner area of the container body is the end area of a closure plug 2, which will have a longitudinal passageway as indicated by dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 2.

Near the inner end of the closure plug 2, the latter receives a thin metal ring 3, and this ring may sit in a shallow groove provided for this purpose, although this is not essential. The ring will, of course, have a rather tight fit in the opening of the container body.

The outer and projecting portion of the closure plug 2 may be formed with threads, as shown at 4, to receive an internally threaded cap (not shown), or it may have a smooth surface to receive a close-fitting cap frictionally held.

The invention renders unnecessary the use of adhesives or similar applied agents to bond the pluglike closure to the constance, of an induction coil reacting with the thin metal ring to a medium-high-frequency electrical current, which may, for example, be about 700 Kc. Such inductive action results in violently heating the metal ring 3 and melting the neighboring layer of plastic, resulting in a clean and strong thermal bond between the closure plug and the container body.

For purposes of clear illustration FIG. 4 shows the ring 3 far thicker than that which will commercially be employed; which thickness, for example, may be 0.0l0 inches, in usual cases.

Also, it will be seen that weld bond may be effected by sharply localized thermal bonding, as exemplified by medium high frequency induction.

It will be realized that various modifications may be made in the form and arrangement of the elements the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by letters patent, is as follows:

I. A miniature plastic container comprising a tubular body member, and a closure member fitted in an end of said body member, in combination with a metal ring-shaped member, thin in thickness, surrounding the closure member at an area within the body member and bonded to said body member and the closure member by fusion of the plastic onto said ringshaped member through inductive action of a medium-highfrequency electrical current, said ring having continuous unbroken surfaces and opposed flat sides. 

1. A miniature plastic container comprising a tubular body member, and a closure member fitted in an end of said body member, in combination with a metal ring-shaped member, thin in thickness, surrounding the closure member at an area within the body member and bonded to said body member and the closure member by fusion of the plastic onto said ring-shaped member through inductive action of a medium-high-frequency electrical current, said ring having continuous unbroken surfaces and opposed flat sides. 